Two accused in vendor embezzlement case appear in court

Two former local officials with Centerplate, the Covelli Centre’s food and drink vendor, chose today to waive their rights to preliminary hearings on a felony-theft charge each accusing them of embezzling money from the company for more than two years.

Kathy Lewis, 40, of Karl Street in Youngstown, the company’s former office manager at the center, pleaded innocent at an arraignment in Youngstown Municipal Court to theft and was released without having to post a bond.

Mark P. Daigle, 38, of Steeplechase Drive in Canfield, the company’s former local general manager, appeared in court today declining to have a preliminary hearing. He remains free on $10,000 bond.

Police say the two embezzled money from the food and drink vendor from Dec. 7, 2007, till March 18, 2010.

Police are also investigating whether a Jan. 26 robbery, in which about $90,000 was taken, was staged by the two to cover up the embezzlement.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com